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P. MILLER. SHEET METAL ROD, &c.' No. 413,953. Patented Oct. 29, 1889.

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WiTNESSES I l NVENTDR w 4 Zffa m UNITED .STATESPATENT FFICE.

FRANK. MILLER, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE AVERY STAMPING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

SHEET -MET-AL ROD, 80C.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 413,953, dated October 29, 1889.

Application filed January 28, 1889. Serial No. 297,844. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern..-

Be it known that I, FRANK. MILLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Guyahoga and. State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sheet-Metal Rods, &c., of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention consists, first, in a rod or pin made from a strip of spring sheet metal somewhat more than twice the length of the completed rod or pin, having the two legs bent longitudinally into anydesired form, and having a transverse bend near the center of the strip, whereby the two legs may be brought together and whereby the spring of the bent central part tends to spread them apart and to automatically hold them inengagement with any part which surrounds them.

It also consists in a rod having the above characteristics and having the legs bent in the particular form. shown in the drawings, whereby it is adapted to be connected with a damper and to serve as the rod by which said damper is pivoted to the pipe; and it also consists in the combination of a damper-rod having the features of construction herein shown and described with a damper having oppositely-bent straps, between which the damper-rod is passed and with which it automatically engages, all of which will be hereinafterdescribed, and pointed out definitely in the claims.

than double the length of the rod desired.

This blank is left flat in its middle part a, and each leg is bent longitudinally between dies into a form suitable for the use to which it is to be put. 1

As shown in the drawings, the device is designed to be used as adamper-rod, and there fore each leg is bent into semi-cylindrical form at a, next to .said flat portion a, to form the journal at one side of the pipe. ends a of the blank each leg is again bent into semi-cylindrical form of smaller diameter to form the journal for the other side of the pipe, and between these cylindric'alparts, at a the blank is bent into such angular form as will cause the rod, when the two legs thereof are brought together, to fit between the retaining straps formed on the damper-plate. The blank is then bent transversely at the flat central part a into a substantially cylindrical form, and the two legs thereby brought together, as shown in Fig. 1.

B represents a damper-plate made of sheet or cast metal, as preferred. 1) I) represent straps formed upon said plate, and adapted to grasp and hold the rod A.

In the form of the damper shown each strap is bent in the form of aright angle, and they are bent in that form alternately in opposite directions. That part of the damper-rod which engages with said straps is therefore bent so that each leg shall form a right angle in cross-section. It is immaterial, however, whether or not the straps be of this particular shape or construction. It is only material that they should be adapted to grasp the angular part a of the damper-rod and prevent its turning independently of the plate B. The damperplate B being inserted in the pipe, the two ends 01, are brought together and pushed through the hole in the pipe and between the straps b b until they are seated in the hole on the opposite side of the pipe. The smaller diameter of the ends a makes this insertion easy, and the tendency of the two legs to spring apart by reason of the transverse bend at the center holds the rod firmly and prevents any accidental displacement thereof.

At the each side of the central part bent longitudinally into any desired form, and having the said central part bent transversely, whereby the/two legs may be brought together and whereby the spring of the bent central part tends to spread the legs apart and thereby automatically hold them in engagement with a part which surrounds them, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. A pivot-rod for dampers, &c., consisting of a strip of spring sheet metal bent transversely near its middle to bring the two legs thereof together, said legs being bent longitudinally into such shape that when they lie together they form the angular part a and the cylindrical parts a, a substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. The combination, with a plate B, having the retaining-straps I) b, of a spring pivotingrod made of a strip of sheet metal bent transversely near its middle to bring the two legs thereof together and bent longitudinally, so that when said legs are brought together they Will form an angular part for engagement with the straps b I) and cylindrical parts upon which it turns, substantially as and for the I purpose specified.

4. Apivot-rod for dampers, &c., consisting of a strip of sheet metal bent transversely near the middle to bring the two legs thereof together, said legs being bent longitudinally lVitnesses:

S. D. Con, E. L. THURSTON. 

